SABC / Sir Masire's memorial service will be held in Gaborone on Wednesday while his funeral will be on Thursday at his home village Kanye.

President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique has appointed his predecessor, Armando Guebuza to head the country’s delegation at the funeral of former Botswana President Ketumile Masire on Wednesday.Masire Botswana’s president from 1980 to 1998 when he stepped down voluntarily, died on June 22 at the age of 91 and will be given a state funeral.

The Mozambican delegation to the funeral ceremonies is headed by Armando Emílio Guebuza, accompanied by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Silva Dunduro, a statement from the Mozambican Presidency on Tuesday said.

The delegation is carrying a message from President Filipe Nyusi to his Tswana counterpart, Ian Khama.

Several dignitaries have arrived for the memorial and funeral service of former Botswana President Sir Ketumile Masire. Masire died in a private hospital last week after undergoing surgery.

Masire’s memorial service will be held in Gaborone on Wednesday while his funeral will be on Thursday at his home village Kanye.

Former Mozambique President Armando Guebuza, former OAU secretary general Salim Ahmed Salim and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa have arrived in the capital.

Former President Thabo Mbeki and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe are also expected to attend Masire’s send-off.

On Tuesday Masire’s body was brought to parliament for Batswana to pay their respects. Among them was President Ian Khama, his second command Mokgweetsi Masisi.

Masire was described by many as a man of the people, who used humour to diffuse any tense situation.